Meet October's Cat of the Month - the marvellous Mia!
Mia came to us in late September after her owner noticed signs of her having a stroke.
Upon arrival, it was clear that she was unable to coordinate her movement, she was falling when attempting to stand. Once she had been examined by Claire, our vet, with a thorough physical and neurological assessment, she found that Mia had severe hypertension, which had likely caused damage to the brain.
Mia stayed in with us overnight, where she was monitored and kept in a more restricted space to help prevent further injuries to herself. She was started on Amlodipine to lower her blood pressure, which was checked regularly throughout her stay with us.
Mia improved so much throughout October
Cuddly Mia the day after her initial admit
The next morning she appeared brighter and excited to see us. She was even very keen to have some food and water, unlike the day before. Her neurological function still had a way to go, however, her blood pressure had decreased which was a good sign.
She had blood tests, a heart scan, lots of cuddles with VCA Tiv, and after lots of discussions, went home with her pawrents for the weekend.
On the Monday, Mia was back in for a check. She was still wobbly, but, had noticeably improved from Friday, being able to sit upright and hold her head up. Mia's dad had been encouraging her to walk across the room with a helping hand.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is abnormally high. This pressure occurs when the heart pumps blood to the body and can cause various health problems in pets, especially cats.
- Arndt Small Animal Center
Mia at her check after the weekend at home
Fast forward to now, Mia is a completely different cat from when she originally came to us in September. Her walking has improved tremendously and she is still excited for love and fuss. Her blood pressure is not quite there yet, but we will continue to monitor it and adjust her treatment.
Mia is a good example of how regular health checks for cats are important for preventative health care. She appeared to have no issues for years, and so, was not examined regularly. Cats are experts at hiding pain and illness, often until it’s quite advanced. That’s why regular vet check-ups are so important, even if your cat looks totally fine. Early intervention for issues found means your cat will live longer and happier.
We are all insanely proud of Mia and how far she has come. Her story is truly amazing, and we hope you all appreciate her as much as we do.
Writing her notes for VCA Tiv, feeling much better!
Add comment
Comments